Container



NOV. 17, 1970 R, ||l RAMSHAW EAL 3,541,599

CONTAINER ys sheets-sheet 1 Filed July '7, 1969 FIG.

INVENTORS Ronald H. RAMSHAW Dcuglus ROBERTS AGENT Nov. 17, 1970 R. H. RAMsHAw E'I'AL 3,541,599

i CONTAINER Filed July A'2, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Ronald H. RAMSHAW Douglas ROBERTS AGENT 'Novf 17,*y 1970 i R, H, RAMsHAw ETAL 3,541,599

CONTAINER Filed July v, 1969 s sheets-sheet s INVENTORS Ronald H. RAMSHAW Douglas ROBERTS AGENT United States Patent U.S. Cl. 229 16 V7 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A book-like container formed from a single blank and containing a pair of trays. Each tray has a top panel, a bottom-forming panel, a backing panel and side wall panels, all foldably interconnected. The bottom-forming panel contains a bottom wall panel and an inner end wall panel, foldably interconnected, and a border 'section connected by a fold line to the inner end wall and extending between said fold line and a pair of spaced slits in the bottom-forming panel. The two trays are connected into a single container by means of a back cover panel, foldably connected to an end edge of each backing panel, and a pair of hinge panels each foldably connected along an edge to the top panel of each tray so that the trays can be folded face to face.

The present invention relates to a tray, more specifically to a paperboard container having a pair of opposed traylike pockets and foldable into a simulated book.

Many different forms of tray structures have previously been proposed and several foldable simulated book containers are being commercially utilized. Conventional trays are forrned from single blanks and have their side and end walls formed by folding the laterally projecting flaps from the bottom wall panel thereby requiring complex set-up machines for any tray having side walls of greater thickness than the caliper of the board. When book-like containers were contemplated, conventional trays were manufactured and these trays were inserted into a separate container foldable to a closed position simulating a book. Thus with conventional containers of the type contemplated separate blanks were required for each tray and the simulated book forming container, and a plurality of separate operations were required to manufacture the trays and containers, i.e. each tray must be set-up and the container set-up, the trays inserted into the containers, and then the containers closed. The present invention provides a simplified tray construction and a greatly simplified simulated book container that may be formed from a single blank and glued on conventional equipment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified tray structure.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide a simplified book-like package formed from a single blank and incorporating a pair of opposed trays.

Broadly, the present invention relates to a tray comprising a top panel, a bottom forming panel, a backing panel and side wall panels foldably interconnected, said bottom forming panel being interposed between said top panel and said backing panel, a pair of spaced slits in said bottom forming panel defining edges of foldably interconnected bottom wall and inner end wall panels, a C-shaped border section outside of said slits and connected to said inner end wall panel by a fold line, said bottom wall panel being adjacent said backing panel and said border portion being spaced from said bottom wall panel by said inner end wall panel. The present invention further comprises a pair of such trays connected together by a back cover panel foldably connected to the backing panel of each tray of said pair of trays to form a book-like carton.

Further features, objects and advantages will be evident from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one form of blank incorporating the present invention.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate a sequence of steps for setting up the container.

FIG. 5 is a section along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a section along the line 6 6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a partial section along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4 showing the end flaps in closed position.

FIG. 8 is a section along the line 8 8 of FIG. 4 modified to show the flaps in closed position.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of an erected carton partially closed to book forming position.

FIG. 10 is an isometric View of the closed simulated book container.

FIG. 11 illustrates another form of blank suitable for a book-type container constructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a blank similar to that of FIG. 11 but suitable for forming a single tray.

FIG. 13 illustrates the first step in setting up the tray of the blank of FIG. l2.

FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the erected tray.

FIG. 15 is a section along the line 15 15 of FIG. 14, and

FIG. 16 is a section along the line 16 16 of FIG. 14.

In FIG. 1 a blank 10 suitable for forming a pair of trays foldable into a simulated book container has been illustrated. Each of the trays is formed of three main panels interconnected by side Wall forming panels and fold lines. The upper section of the blank 10 has a first set of panels adapted to form the first tray. These panels are arranged in a row and include an upper or top tray panel 12, a first side wall panel 14, a backing panel 16, a second side wall panel 18 and a bottom forming panel 20 interconnected by substantially parallel fold lines 22, 24, 26 and 28. Spaced below the first set of panels is a second set of panels adapted to form the second tray of said pair of trays. Each of the panels of the second set is spaced directly below an equivalent panel of the first set and is identified by the same number but with a prime thereafter. The fold lines 22, 24, 26 and 28 separate the panels of both sets.

A pair of hinge forming panels 30 and 32 connect panels 12 and 12. The panels 12, 30,32 and 12 are interconnected by parallel fold lines 34, 36 and 38 which extend substantially perpendicular to the fold line 22. The end edges of panels 30 and 32 are tapered to facilitate folding of the trays to form the simulated book.

A back covering panel 40 for the simulated book construction is positioned intermediate the panels 16 and 16 and is connected to these panels 16 and 16 by extensions of fold lines 34 and 38. Connected to opposite ends of the panel 4l) by fold lines 24 and 26 respectively are panels 42 and 44 which are connected to substantially triangular panels 46, 48, 50 and 52 by fold lines 54, 56, 58 and 6), and these triangular panels are in turn connected to side panels 14, 14', 18 and 18' respectively by fold lines 34 and 38.

An end closure panel 62 is connected to the top panel 12 by a fold lines 64 extending substantially perpendicular to line 22 and a closure tlap 66 is connected to panel 62 by fold line 68 susbtantially parallel to the fold line 64. The fold line 64 also connects tuck flaps 70' and 72 t0 panels 14 and I8 respectively, and book closure panel 74 to panel 16. A book closure iiap 76 is connected to panel 3 74 by a fold line 78 substantially parallel to fold line 64. Connected to the bottom of panel 12 by fold line 80 is another end closure panel 82 having a locking ap 84 connected thereto by fold 86. The fold line 80 also connects tuck flaps 88 and 90 to panels 14 and 18 respectively.

Panel 12 has a pair of spaced slits 92 and 94 substantially perpendicular to fold line 22. These slits are interconnected at their ends by fold lines 96 and 98 and at their mid point by a slit 100. A pair of tray inner side panels 102 and 104 are defined in the panel 12 by the slits 92 and 94 and fold lines 96 and 98 respectively. In the illustrated embodiment bottom tabs 106 and 108 are connected to the bottom of panels 102 and 104 by fold lines 110 and 112 respectively. The panel 12 is similar to the panel 12 and equivalent slits, fold lines, panels and flaps have been indicated in this panel with the same reference characters as those appearing on panel 12 but followed by a prime Panel 20 has a pair of spaced slits 114 and 116 sub stantially perpendicular to the slits 92 and 94. The ends of these slits 114 and 116 are connected by fold lines 118 and 120 respectively. The line 118 projects past the ends of the slits 114 to the edges of the panel 20 and connects a tray inner end panel 122 to the panel 20. Spaced from and substantially parallel to fold line 120 is a second fold line 124 which extends between the lines 114 and 116, and together with fold line 120 and lines 114 and 116 defines an inner tray end panel 125. A bottom panel 126 is defined by the fold lines 118 and 124 and slits 114 and 116. Between the slits 114 and 116, fold line 120, and the edges of the panel 120, is a C-shaped border section indicated at 127. A pair of fold lines 128 and 130 parallel to and spaced from fold line 118 forms a pair of legs 132 and 134 between the edges of the panel 20 and slits 114 and 116, and between the fold line 118 and the fold lines 128 and 130. The length of these legs 132 and 134 is equal to the spacing between the lines 120 and 124 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is substantially equal to the depth of the tray. It will be noted that the lines 128 and 130 are spaced from the line 64 toward the line 34 to accommodate the thickness of the panels and flaps forming the end closure of the tray as will be more apparent as the description proceeds.

The panel 20' is die cnt and creased in substantially the same way as panel 20 and equivalent slits and fold lines are indicated by the same reference numerals followed by a prime The only difference between the two panels 20 and 20 is a slit 136 formed at the mid point of the fold line 118 and this slit is adapted to receive the locking tab 84 connected to panel 82 and will be described below.

The various steps in the manufacture and setting up of the carton will now be described. Panels 18, 18', 20 and 20 are folded over on fold line 26 to overlie the panels 16, 16', 14 and 14 as shown in FIG. 2 and then the panels 12 and 12 are folded along line 22 to overlap the panels 20 and 20 respectively as shown in FIG. 3. The panels 12 and 20 and 12' and 20 are secured together by a suitable adhesive located in the C-shaped border sections 127 and 127'.

After the carton has been glued as above described, it may be squared and the panels 102, 104, 106, 108, 126 and 125 and the equivalent panels in panels 12 and 20 are manipulated to the position shown in FIGS. 4, and 6 so that the panel 125 extends substantially perpendicular to the panel and spaces the panel 126 to a position resting on the panel 16. The panels 102 and 104 are folded substantially perpendicular to the panel 12 and the panels 106 and 108 are folded substantially perpendicular to the panels 102 and 104 and rest on panel 126 and function to hold the panels 102 and 104 in position (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The end of the tray formed by panels 12, 16 and 20 is formed by folding panel 122 into face-to-face relationship with the legs 132 and 134 and then folding the flaps 70 and 72 into face-to-face relationship with the panel 122 and finally by folding the panel 62 into face-to-face relationship with the flaps 70 and 72 and tucking the flap 66 between the panels 126 and 16 as shown in FIG. 7. The end of the tray formed by panels 12', 16 and 20 is formed by folding the panel 122' substantially into face-to-face relationship with the panels 132' and 134', folding the flaps 88 and 90 into face-toface relationship with the panel 122' and then folding the panel 82 into faceto-face relationship with the aps 88 and 89 and inserting locking tab 84 into locking slit 136 as shown in FIG. 8. The folding sequences described above need not be adhered to, for example the flaps and 72 or 88 and 90 may be folded to lie on either side of the panels 122 and 122 respectively.

When the carton is folded into book form with the panels 12 and 12 in face-to-face relationship, the fold line 36 is moved away from the panel 40` and the panels 30 and 32 form a V which is flattened as the book is closed. Panels 42 and 44 together with panels 46, 48, 50 and 52 fold inwardly (only panels 44, 50 and 52 are illustrated in FIG. 9) and when the book is closed the panel 40 stretches between the panels 16 and 16 and forms a back cover for the simulated book container. The panel 74 is then folded on fold line 64 to a position covering panels 62 and 82 and the ap 76 is tucked between the panels 16 and 126' to lock the book in closed position as illustrated in FIG. 10. A second embodiment of a simulated book container of the instant invention has been shown in FIG. 11. Similar parts to those in the FIGS. 1 to l0 embodiment have been illustrated by the same reference numerals, however, the panels in the blank 148 of the FIG. 11 embodiment have been rearranged. In the blank 148, the panels 14, 16 and 18 have been shifted to the left and panel 12 together with a connecting panel 150 have been inserted between the panels 18 and 20. The fold line 22 is no longer required since the edge of panel 14 now becomes a free edge of the blank and fold lines 152 and 154 are added to connect the panel 150 to panels 12 and 20 respectively. A glue panel 156 is connected to the free end of panel 20 by fold line 158.

The main difference between the blank of FIG. 11 and that of FIG. l, other than those referred to above, is the location of the end closing panels and aps as shown. The end closing panel 160 is connected to the panel 16 by the fold line 64 and the end closing flap 162 is connected to the panel 160 by fold line 164. A slit 166 is provided at the mid point of panel 16 on the fold line 64 and is adapted to receive locking tab 168 as will be described hereinbelow.

Connected to the panel 16 by fold line 80 is book closure panel 170 which replaces panel 74 of 4the FIG. l embodiment and connected to the panel 170 by fold line 172 is locking tab 168 referred to above. An end closure panel 174 is connected to the panel 12' by fold line 80 and connected to panel 174 by fold line 176 in end 1ocking flap 178.

The panel 20 of FIG. 11 is substantially the same as the panel 20 of FIG. l, however, the legs 132a and 13411 and the panel 125a are shorter than their equivalent parts 132, 134 and 125 of the FIG. l embodiment. Thus the C-shaped border section 127 of the FIG. 11 embodiment is not glued to the panel 12 but is spaced from both panels 12 and 16.

In the FIG. 11 embodiment the glue panel 156 is glued or otherwise secured to the panel 18 and the panels 14 and 150 are similarly secured. The manner in which blank 11 is to be set up and glued should be apparent from the above description but will be clearer in the light of the description of the embodiment of FIGS. 12 to 16 inclusive.

The blank of FIG. l2 is substantially the same as lthe blank 148 of FIG. 11 down to the fold line 34 with the exception that the slot 166 has been omitted from the blank 190. Thus similar parts of the blanks 148 and 190 have been indicated with similar reference numerals and a detailed description of the blank 190 will not be provided. Fold line 34 connects a tuck flap 192 to panel 14 and end closure panel 194 to panel 16, a tuck flap 196 to panel 1S and an auxiliary flap 198 to panel 12. A locking tab 200 is connected to panel 194 by fold line 202 and a locking slit 204 adapted to receive the tab 200 is located mid-length of panel 12 on fold line 34.

The blank 190 of FIG. l2 is erected by folding the panels 150 and 20 on line 152 to overlie panels 12 and 18 and the panel 156 is glued or otherwise secured to the panel 18, i.e. the blank is folded to the position shown in FIG. 13 and panels 8 and 156 are secured together. Next the panels 14 and 16 are folded along line 26 to overlie panels and 150 and panels 14 and 150 are secured together. The tray can then be erected by squaring same and folding the panels 125a, 126, 102. and 104 into the position in the manner described with respect to the FIG. l embodiment. One end of the tray formed from the blank 190 is formed by folding the panel 122 substantially into face-to-face relationship with the legs 132a, 134a, folding the tuck aps 70 and 72, and then folding the panel 160 into face-to-face relationship with the aps 70 and 72 and ing the flap 162 between the free edge of panel 122 and the back face of panel 12 (see FIG. 6). The other end of the tray is formed by folding the tuck flaps 192 and 196 and then the auxiliary panel 198 and finally covering these panels with panel 194 and inserting locking tab 200 into locking slot 204 to lock the end wall panel 194 in erected position (see FIG. 16).

Applicant has disclosed several forms of the instant invention, others will be evident to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A tray comprising a top panel, a bottom forming panel, a backing panel and side wall panels foldably interconnected, said bottom forming panel being interposed between said top panel and said bottom panel, a pair of spaced parallel slits in said bottom forming panel defining the edges of foldably interconnected bottom wall and inner end wall panels in said bottom forming panel, a fold line connecting said inner end wall panel to a C- shaped border section of said bottom forming panel, said C-shaped border section extending between said slits and said fold line and edges of said bottom forming panel, said bottom wall panel being adjacent said backing panel and said border section being spaced from said-bottom wall panel.

2. A tray as defined in claim 1 wherein said border CTI section is in face-to-face relationship with and is secured to said top panel.

3. A tray as defined in claim 1 wherein said top panel has formed therein and foldably connected thereto a pair of opposed inner tray side wall forming panels folded to a position substantiallly perpendicular to said top panel.

4. A book-type container comprising a pair of trays, each of said trays having a top panel, a bottom forming panel, a backing panel and side wall panels foldably interconnected, said bottom forming panel being interposed between said top and said backing panels, a pair of spaced slits in each said bottom forming panel, said slits defining the edges of a foldably interconnected bottom wall panel and inner end wall panel, a border section in said bottom forming panel, said inner end wall panel being connected to said border section by a fold line, said border section extending between said fold line and said slits and edges of said bottom forming panel, said bottom wall panel being adjacent said backing panel and said border sections being spaced from said bottom Wall panel, a back cover panel foldably connected to an end edge of each said backing panel, a pair of foldably connected hinge panels, one of said hinge panels being foldably connected to said top panel of each said tray along an end edge thereof, said back cover panel and said hinge panels permitting said trays to be folded into face-to-face relationship.

5. A container as defined in claim 4 further cornprising book closure panel foldably connected to said backing panel of one of said trays and means on said closure panel cooperating with the other tray of said pair of trays to hold said pair of trays in closed book position.

6. A container as defined in claim 4 wherein said border section is in face-to-face relationship with and is secured to said top panel.

7. A container as defined in claim 4 wherein said top panel has formed therein and foldably connected thereto a pair of oppose dinner tray side wall forming panels folded to a position substantially perpendicular to said top panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,075,839 10/1913 Matthews 229-16 2,126,407 8/ 1938 Payne et al. 229--8X 3,253,703 5/1966 Ettin 206-45.l4

DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. XR. 

